It Takes a Village
Tyra Gatewood, Pharm.D., BCOP
When I hear that phrase, my mind travels
back to the small southeastern Arkansas town
where I grew up. Everyone knew everyone else
and any adult was able to assume the role of
an omnipresent parent whose goal was to make
sure you grew up to be an upstanding citizen
and achieved your goals.
Upon joining the Neuro-Oncology team at Moffitt earlier this year,
I was deeply moved by the kindness and compassion of the team
members. It was a small, close-knit team that reminded me of an
extended family. My thoughts were drawn back to home. Everyone
was eager for me to jump right in and put my expertise to use in
enhancing the care of our patients.
My role as a clinical pharmacist is to work directly with other
members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to ensure
that all medications prescribed for a patient will contribute to
optimizing their goals of care. While patients seen in the Neuro-
Oncology clinic are receiving chemotherapy for cancers such a
Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma, in most
cases they also have other comorbidities such as hypertension,
diabetes, heart disease, or depression for which they are taking
medications. This presents an ideal opportunity to screen the
patient’s medication profile for issues such as polypharmacy,
optimal dosage and drug interactions. It also affords the chance
Faculty Highlight
Sepideh Mokhtari, MD
continued from page 3
was an ependymoma. Without surgical intervention, he could
potentially lose his breathing function. Dr. Tran also predicted
surgery would improve his spasticity and weakness.
After many years of uncertainty and misdiagnosis, Dr. Mokhtari’s
brother-in-law finally had his life-altering surgery. The lesion was
found to be an ependymoma. Already, his spasticity has significantly
improved. He is starting to move the right side of his body
after five years of immobility. At this rate, it is predicted that he
could potentially walk
again within the next
two years. This is a prime
example of the exceptional
and profound work here
at Moffitt.
Since joining Moffitt,
Dr. Mokhtari has seen
many patients as
complicated as her
own brother-in-law.
Many of her patients
are cancer survivors,
suffering from past
treatment-related
side effects. Others
are in active treatment
to interview the patient for any adverse effects they may be
experiencing from medications being taken. When consulting
with the physician or appropriate member of the healthcare team,
I am able to recommend alternate or additional medication(s) or
therapies that may be a better fit for a patient’s healthcare needs.
The patient is then followed throughout each visit or hospitalization
to assure the overall goals of therapy are being met.
While cancer treatment is associated with side effects, the goal
of the Moffitt Neuro-Oncology team is to minimize the toxicity
as much as possible and to support the patient through those
side effects that are unavoidable. It does indeed take a village
to accomplish this, but we are willing and ready to share the
responsibility of pursuing excellence in patient care as we work
towards achieving our Moffitt mission “to contribute to the
prevention and cure of cancer.”
About Tyra Gatewood, Pharm.D., BCOP
Tyra completed her undergraduate and graduate training at
the University of Arkansas/University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences respectively. She completed a one-year post graduate
Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. John Hospital and Medical
Center/Ascension Health in Detroit, MI followed by a one-year
Oncology Pharmacy Specialty Residency at The Detroit Medical
Center/Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Her tenure at
Moffitt began in 2005 as part of the Infusion Center Pharmacy
Team. She has since transitioned to the Gastrointestinal Oncology
Clinic and Investigational Drug Service. Tyra joined the Neuro-
Oncology Team in March 2015.
with immunotherapy, but experience poor quality of life due
to immune-mediated neurologic complications. Through close
collaboration with different oncologists and the Neuro-Oncology
Team here at Moffitt, Dr. Mokhtari has been able to help many
patients regain function and independence, and enjoy life again.
Neurologic symptoms such as headache, pain, seizure, and facial
palsy can sometimes signal a recurrence of cancer. Dr. Mokhtari’s
thorough and extensive neurologic work-up has led to earlier
diagnosis of cancer recurrence. This allows many patients
quicker access to appropriate treatment for their recurrence,
with better chances of recovery.
Neuro-Oncology Team 2018
MOFFITT.org 2018 ISSUE | NEURON NEWS 5
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